Fundraising consulting

Smarter fundraising,
built on science.

Giving Geek Consulting brings research, strategy, and over 25 years of expertise to nonprofits ready to excite donors in the joy of giving.. We help you raise more — without the guesswork or the jargon.

25+

Years of major gifts and campaign experience

$1B

Raised across client organizations

1k⁺

Fundraisers trained
and coached

CFRE

Certified Fundraising Executive on every engagement

Philosophy

Most fundraising advice is built on instinct. Ours is built on research. We’ve spent 25 years in the rooms, with the donors, studying what actually moves people to give — and what gets in the way. What we’ve learned is that generosity isn’t a mystery. It’s a formula.

You’ll see that thinking reflected in how this site is organized. Elements are the work — the consulting services, frameworks, and tools we use to build fundraising programs that actually perform. Catalysts are what make the work sharper — the speaking, the training, and the ideas that change how your team thinks about donors before we ever get in a room together.

All of it is research-backed and field-tested across hundreds of organizations, every sector, and more than a billion dollars raised. The science is real. The results are repeatable. And we’re ready to show you how.

ELEMENTS — WHAT WE DO

Consulting for organizations that take fundraising seriously.

We work alongside nonprofits, community foundations, and health systems to build the infrastructure, language, and relationships that produce lasting revenue growth.

Campaign Kick-Start

Intelligence-driven launch packages that turn your prospect list into 100 campaign-ready donor briefs — with coaching and a playbook included.

Philanthropic Assessment & Strategy

A full diagnostic of your organization's fundraising capacity, donor relationships, and growth potential — with a roadmap forward.

Donor Research & Profiling

Deep profiles on your best prospects — giving history, capacity, connection, and the ask that fits each donor.

Case for Support & Giving Materials

Proposals, Cases for Support, and solicitation materials that speak the donor's language — not yours.

Staff & Board Training

Coaching your team on the ask, the conversation, and the science behind why donors give — so they can replicate it.

Campaign Counsel

Feasibility studies, campaign strategy, and active counsel through the quiet phase, public launch, and close.

Storytelling Video Production

Impact stories that donors feel — produced for major gift conversations, campaign launches, and board presentations.

Elements — The Team

People who've done the work.

We’ve each spent careers doing the work — in development offices, university campaigns, and nonprofit boardrooms. No theory without practice.

Donors give because it feels good — and science can tell us exactly why. This session digs into the psychology of generosity and how fundraisers can use donor motivation research to increase both the joy of giving and the impact of every ask.

September 1, 2026

Indianapolis, IN

Coming Soon

The Donation Equation

((P + G) × (C + S + U)) ÷ B The formula behind every major gift.

By Brian Gawor, CFRE & Sami Zoss

Elements — The Donation Equation

The Donation Equation

Every donor decision follows a pattern. Brian’s research identifies the six forces behind every gift — and gives fundraisers a repeatable framework for working with them.

A book, a methodology, and the foundation for every Giving Geek engagement.

Brian Gawor, CFRE · with Sami Zoss

Your donation process itself can be a barrier to giving. Sami Zoss breaks down how to design the giving experience around your donors — not your organization’s internal convenience.

June 9, 2026 No Comments

CATALYSTS — SECRET FUNDRAISING CLUB

The podcast fundraisers keep to themselves.

Candid conversations about what actually works in major gifts, campaigns, and nonprofit leadership. No fluff — just the inside game.

Coming soon. Be first to know when we drop.

🎙 In Production

Secret Fundraising Club

Hosted by Brian Gawor, CFRE

Drop your email and we’ll notify you the moment the first episode drops. Or reach us at podcast@givinggeek.com.

Catalysts — Presentations

Bring the science of generosity to your conference.

Brian Gawor, CFRE and Sami Zoss have presented at AFP ICON, CASE conferences across every district, and dozens of institutional and sector convenings — all with one goal: leaving fundraisers with tactics they can use Monday morning.

Every session is customized to your audience. Brian uses live polling, peer conversation, and real research to keep rooms engaged — not just informed.